NASA Press Conference LIVE THREAD

Fox, CNN, networks, NASA TV | February 2, 2003 | NASA

[WFTR]

You can't compare the world's highest performance aircraft/spacecraft with anything on earth. We make progress only by pushing the envelope.

Yes, I said in my post that the space program wasn't the same as the chemical industry. At the same time, I think it is worthwhile for people to know how decisions are made in other areas.

Your risk aversion is not the same as astronauts and race car drivers; they fight for a chance to go.

Actually, it isn't my risk aversion as much as the policy under which American industry operates at this time. I'm not always certain where I stand on some of these policies from a personal perspective, but I abide by company policy because it's my job.

WFTR
Bill

[John Jamieson]

Yes, I like the idea of a small unpowered shuttle-like manned module on an expendable rocket when need. They called it Dynasoar ca. 1965, I believe. The new expendable (could be derived from ET and SSME designs) should be designed for about 150,000 LEO to support a lunar base and mars missions.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Just got in, been gone many hours, trying to catch up. Thanks buddy......

[John Jamieson]

Space junk goes right through the skin too. The tile would not be the big problem. ISS is at the greatest risk for this since it's up there all the time.

[John Jamieson]

What are the radioactive pieces? I can't think of any.

[John Jamieson]

It was a December launch. I didn't think that they knew it was insulation for sure.

[John Jamieson]

Does anyone have a copy of the STS107 press kit? I've tried several time to download it but it hasn't worked. I want to know the expected landed weight.

I did fine several other missions that had landing weights from about 200,000 to 220,000 pounds for other orbiters. I also found a Columbia flight that came back essentially empty at 220,000 pounds. The Double Spacehab weighed almost 30,000 pounds, possible putting the landing weight of this mission at 250,000 pounds? That would make this the highest weight reentry ever and the hottest.

Also I found that max heating is at 18.03 Mach, a very familar sounding speed.

Is it possible that Columbia was overloaded????

[bonesmccoy]

Do you have info on the size of the insulation lost from the ET?

I've only seen a still on Free Republic.

Where's the launch video and at what point did the insulation break loose?

[snopercod]

there are radioactive pieces with the shuttle

Maybe in some lab experiment, but not on the shuttle (with the exception of the crew module smoke detectors, which are no more dangerous than the ones in everybody's homes.)

[mewzilla]

Did anyone just catch FOX & friends a minute ago? Steve Doocy said that when John Glenn went up on his trip that NASA had been worried about damage and had found a way to check out the underside of the shuttle, with satellite photog I think. Did I hear that correctly? And if they could do it for Glenn's mission, why not for this one? Especially since that chunk of SOFI, according to Doocy, was about 15' square.

[mewzilla]

About 80 seconds into the flight, and Steve Doocy on FOX said this morning that NASA estimates the chunk of SOFI was about 15 sq ft.

[snopercod]

The answer to your tile inspection question is earlier in this thread.

[mewzilla]

Well, I missed it, then. Care to tell me where?

[snopercod]

The wheels are deployed using explosive bolts

Actually the wheels are deployed by hydraulic power and mechanical bungees. They do have pyro thrusters as a backup, but I am not sure whether or not the pyros have ever been needed.

[snopercod]

Of course you mean that it was too heavy to carry full-sized ISS components up to the ISS orbit.

You are correct. But don't forget the 30% penalty to reach the 51 degree orbit. Columbia's maximum payload capacity to a standard orbit is 52,500 lbs. to the best of my knowledge.

I believe, but am not sure, that that figure includes the weight of passengers, expendables, and OMS/RCS fuel as well as the junk in the trunk.

[snopercod]

Did you notice the frost on the intertank area during ascent? It was very obvious.

Speaking of the intertank, people don't realize the importance of that structure. Let me explain a little.

You have two solid rocket boosters which are each pushing the intertank with millions of pounds of thrust. There is a huge 32' +/- long, 6' tall in cross section (IIRC) structural box beam going through it from side to side with a monoball on each side where the boosters push the tank, which in turn, pushes the orbiter. (The term "shuttle" refers to the boosters, tank, and orbiter.)

The beam transfers the thrust load from the boosters to the intertank. The intertank pushes the LOX tank (the pointy part of the tank), and "pulls" the LH2 tank behind it. The LH2 tank pushes the entire orbiter at the aft attach points.

That intertank is the very heart of the shuttle itself, structurally speaking. It must certainly flex somewhat as loads change due to wind shear and such.

[mewzilla]

What's the deal with the story that Jay Barbree just broke on the Today show. I didn't see the piece, but heard it mentioned by Imus just now. Something about an internal memo sent two days before launch about possible problems on re-entry. Anyone catch the report?

[OldFriend]

Genius.....the foam is sprayed on and HARDENS..........

[Budge]

Do you have info on the size of the insulation lost from the ET?

No, I have no idea of the size.

I've only seen a still on Free Republic.

Where's the launch video and at what point did the insulation break loose?

There is a question in my mind about this. TV is showing a photo just as the shuttle is lifting off the pad with an area circled, yet they are saying 80 seconds after lift-off. There is no way that the gantry would still be in the picture 80 seconds into the launch.

Check this video here. This looks more like 80 seconds into launch.

[Budge]

Finally! FOX news just showed the clip I have linked to.

Earlier they showed the video taken by the Australian astronomer when Clombia was passing over the California/Nevada border.